FIFA Puskas Award 2012: The alternative shortlist

As voting started on Wednesday afternoon for the annual FIFA Puskas goal of the year award, Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a nailed on winner that came just hours after the cut-off point to be considered in the 2012 poll.

The 31-year-old striker's incredible overhead kick, which capped an impressive 4-2 victory for Sweden against England at the newly-opened Friends Arena in Stockholm, will instead have to be nominated as a candidate next year, with World Football's governing body refusing to budge on their current set of guidelines.

"Given that a number of votes have already been cast for this year's award, the select committee for the Puskas Award may not, at this stage, include an additional nominee," read a FIFA statement.

Ibrahimovic's effort is not the only moment of magic that has been criminally overlooked, however, with a number of sensational strikes also omitted from the shortlist.

The 2012 trophy - named after legendary Hungary footballer and manager Ferenc Puskas - will be chosen by popular vote and announced at the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 Gala in Zurich on January 7.

The current ten-strong list of nominations will be reduced to three when a first round of public voting on FIFA's website ends at the end of the month on November 29. But just for fun, GiveMeFootball has decided to bring you an alternative shortlist of five of the best goals that failed to make the cut.

Peter Crouch | STOKE CITY v Manchester City (March 24th 2012)

A moment of individual brilliance from the Potters striker, as Crouch flicked on a long goal kick into the path of Jermaine Pennant. With one touch, the tricky winger nodded back into the beanpole's path, allowing him to control on the chest before unleashing a stunning volley from the edge of the box, over the helpless Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal.

Younes Belhanda | MONTPELLIER v Marseille (April 11th 2012)

Belhanda's brilliant scissor-kick strike earned Montpellier a 3-1 victory over Marseille, and helped move them one step closer to the Ligue 1 title.

Papiss Cisse | Chelsea v NEWCASTLE UNITED (May 2nd 2012)

The 26-year-old's 25-yard banana volley with the outside of his right foot brought back memories of Roberto Carlos' free-kick for Brazil against France 15 years ago.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said of the strike against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge: "An astonishing goal. Cisse took a chance. You could see he meant it and he's hit it absolutely true."

Taison | METALIST v Rosenborg (November 9th 2012)

During FC Metalist Kharkiv's Europa League fourth round group stage victory over Rosenborg, Brazilian striker Taison scored a sensational goal that has been compared to the great Marco van Basten strike against the ex-USSR in the final of the 1988 European Championships.

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